Month: June 2018

Lionel Messi has yet to win an international honour with Argentina – failing in four World Cup attempts

On the highest-scoring day of World Cup knockout football since 1970, two of the greatest players of all time failed to find the net.

For Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, their inability to make decisive impacts in their teams’ last-16 matches means their tournaments – and perhaps their hopes of claiming the game’s biggest prize – are over.

Defeats for Argentina against France, and Portugal against Uruguay, leave the pair – aged 31 and 33 respectively – knowing the chances that they will ever be able to call themselves World Cup winners have dropped sharply.

‘There is a sadness in seeing Messi go home’

Messi was a deflated figure as he pulled off his captain’s armband and trudged off the pitch in Kazan, walking into the tunnel without a glance back following a thrilling 4-3 defeat by France.

He had given everything – providing two assists in an encounter full of passion and drama – but it was not enough.

German World Cup winner Jurgen Klinsmann claimed Argentina “never managed to find Messi”, who once again carried his nation’s hopes throughout a turbulent campaign.

“He was isolated in the first half, and in the second half he hardly had a touch.”

Argentina certainly failed to provide the service Messi so regularly enjoys at Barcelona. He had just four touches in the box and only one shot on target against France.

It was the latest frustrating chapter on the international stage for Messi, who retired from the national team in 2016, only to later reverse his decision.

“There is a sadness in seeing Messi – perhaps the greatest player ever – go home,” said Spanish football expert Guillem Balague. “He knew he couldn’t do much with this side. He knew he couldn’t do it all on his own. Argentina have been all about heart and complete disorganisation. France put a gear up and the best team won.”

‘The boy is back in town’ – stunning Messi goal gives Argentina lead

While not as productive as he might have hoped, Russia 2018 has certainly been eventful for Messi.

He missed a penalty in Argentina’s opening game against Iceland and looked stressed during the national anthem prior to their defeat by Croatia.

A man of the match performance and a sublime goal against Nigeria carried Argentina into the last 16 – after which he admitted he “could not remember such suffering before”, so great had the pressure been going into that must-win game.

After their last-16 exit, Sampaoli said Argentina “tried to use everything” to help Messi.

“We have the best player in the world and we had to try to create collective situations to really use that player who can have many brilliant moments,” said Sampaoli.

Ultimately, their efforts failed.

Messi’s surprising World Cup stats

He has played 756 minutes in World Cup knockout matches since 2006, but has failed to score a single goal.

His goal against Nigeria ended a run of 662 minutes without a goal in the World Cup.

He has scored 50% of his World Cup goals against Nigeria (three of six).

Seven of the eight shots on target in Saturday’s match against France were scored, with the exception being Messi’s attempt in the 85th minute.

He had more shots than any other player in the first two group games (12) and failed to score with any of them.

Lionel Messi’s World Cup history in numbers

Year

Games

Minutes played

Goals

Assists

Stage reached

Individual awards

2018

4

360

1

2

Last 16

2014

7

693

4

1

Runners-up

Golden Ball

2010

5

450

0

3

Quarter-finals

2006

3

122

1

1

Quarter-finals

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Ronaldo ‘still has a lot to give’

World Cup 2018: Portugal 3-3 Spain – watch all six goals in under a minute

When Ronaldo curled in that sensational free-kick to complete his hat-trick in a 3-3 draw against Spain in Portugal’s opening fixture, you wondered if this tournament – and the Golden Boot – might be defined by the reigning Ballon d’Or winner.

He carried his blistering form into the victory over Morocco, but missed a penalty – and might have been sent off – in the draw with Iran that took them through to the knockout stage.

And, like Messi, he could do nothing to help his side avoid defeat in the last 16, as Edinson Cavani scored twice in Uruguay’s 2-1 win.

So is this the end for Ronaldo, a European champion in 2016, at international level?

Portugal boss Fernando Santos insisted afterwards his captain “still has a lot to give to football” and may not yet be ready to retire from the national team.

“There is a tournament in September [the Uefa Nations League] and we hope Cristiano will be with us to help the players grow,” he added.

“It’s important to have a captain present there and he’s always there for us.”

Ronaldo’s surprising World Cup stats

His third goal against Spain was his first direct free-kick goal at a major tournament for Portugal – it was his 45th attempt.

Ronaldo has a 50% penalty success rate in major tournaments for Portugal, scoring two (against Iran and Spain at the World Cups in 2006 and 2018 respectively) but also failing with two (against Austria at Euro 2016 and Iran).

He has played 514 minutes of football in the knockout stages of the World Cup over the years, but has failed to score or provide an assist.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup history in numbers

Year

Games

Minutes played

Goals

Assists

Stage reached

2018

4

360

4

0

Last 16

2014

3

270

1

1

Group stages

2010

4

360

1

1

Last 16

2006

6

484

1

0

Semi-finals

How you reacted on social media

Muhammed Waqas: Two of the greatest footballers of all time. Will they be remembered as having never won the biggest prize in football? They are not going to get many chances now.

Jordan Ramsden: Messi and Ronaldo both out of the competition before England. Not a sentence I thought I would end up saying!

Garrrry: I do feel for Lionel Messi – he deserves more on the international stage.

Ash Williams: Just shows without quality players on the pitch, Messi and Ronaldo are nothing when facing good teams. Glad they’re going home.

Just spoke to King Salman of Saudi Arabia and explained to him that, because of the turmoil & disfunction in Iran and Venezuela, I am asking that Saudi Arabia increase oil production, maybe up to 2,000,000 barrels, to make up the difference…Prices to high! He has agreed!

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The Sunday Times says Theresa May has told cabinet plotters she will not be “bullied out of office” by colleagues opposed to her Brexit plans. The paper also features glum-faced photos of Christiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi after Portugal and Argentina were knocked out of the World Cup.

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The Sunday Telegraph reports Donald Trump’s national security adviser John Bolton has held a secret meeting with senior backbench Conservative Eurosceptic MPs. He stressed the US president’s enthusiasm for Brexit and his belief that the US and UK can agree a trade deal.

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Prince William is vowing to make it his lifelong mission to bring a “just and lasting peace” to the Middle East, according to the Sunday Mirror. The paper quotes a senior royal source as saying he was so moved by his trip to the region he wants to play a significant role in finding solutions.

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The Observer reports a study on education which suggests reforms under the Tories appears to have fuelled in inequality in the schools system. Its main picture is of France’s Kylian Mbappe who announced himself in the World Cup by scoring twice in his team’s 4-3 win over Argentina.

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The Sunday Express says the NHS in England is on the brink of a “healthcare revolution” – thanks to technological developments. The service’s innovation chief tells the paper of plans for supplies to be delivered by drones and for smartcards carrying patients’ genetic data.

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The Mail on Sunday leads on an internal BBC staff survey which found the corporation has more than 400 transgender staff. Its headline suggests the BBC’s director of diversity was “stunned” by the findings – but a spokesman denies that was the case and says the paper’s claims the survey was secret were wrong as the figures were published in last year’s annual report.

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The Sunday People leads with a story about a student who says she was kidnapped and forced to be a drugs mule.

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The Daily Star Sunday reports a former Love Island contestant believes the reality TV show is “faked” – claiming producers asked for scenes to be reshot and suggested topics of discussion. Tyla Carr appeared on the show last year.

When I was growing up, my parents’ general policy was to only make rules about things with long-term consequences. I wasn’t supposed to get a tattoo before I graduated from high school, for example, but I could dress myself and cut my hair the way I wanted. Over the years, I made some pretty cringe-worthy fashion choices, but with three boys to raise, my parents preferred to spend their energy getting us into college and keeping us out of jail. It (mostly) worked.

When I drove the 2019 BMW X4 recently, I couldn’t help thinking about my parents’ old rules. I don’t understand the appeal of coupe-like crossovers, and still, I have yet to see one I think looks good. A decade from now, the X4 will probably look about as cool as a pair of baggy cargo shorts or an unbuttoned dress shirt worn over a T-shirt. But coupe-like crossovers are hot right now, so why get worked up that BMW’s gotten in on the trend?

Compared to the low bar that was the previous-generation X4, the 2019 model is certainly an improvement. It’s longer, wider, and slightly lower, with a stiffer chassis, lower curb weight, and a more aerodynamic shape. The designers also did a better job of integrating the fastback roofline with the new X3’s front end. Although the old version looked cobbled together, the redesigned model has a much more cohesive exterior design.

Inside, the X4’s cabin looks like it was pulled straight out of the X3, with only a few accommodations made for the sloping roof. Considering how cheap the first-gen X4’s interior felt, that’s a good thing. BMW used significantly nicer materials this time around that, when paired with the cabin’s more modern design, make the X4 feel much more luxurious. That said, the interior isn’t quite up to the standard set by the X4’s most direct competitor, the Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe.

The standard 10.3-inch touchscreen isn’t integrated into the center console like the screen in the last-gen X4, but because it’s mounted higher on the dash, the new system is easier to see and more intuitive to use. Navigation comes standard, as do sports seats and a panoramic moonroof. The multi-color head-up display is 75 percent wider than before and projects an impressive amount of information into the driver’s line of sight.

Several safety features including forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking come standard, but buyers have to pay extra for adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and even blind-spot monitoring.

Considering the X4’s coupe-like roofline, the designers also deserve credit for giving rear passengers more room than you’d expect. There’s one more much-appreciated inch of legroom than before and enough headroom to accommodate most passengers. With the rear seats down, the 18.5-cubic-foot trunk opens up to offer 50.5 cubic feet of cargo room. That’s not quite as much as the GLC Coupe has, but it’s a small improvement over the outgoing model.

Under the hood, buyers get their choice of two engines. The $51,445 X4 xDrive30i uses a twin-turbocharged 2.0-liter I-4 good for 248 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Spring for the $61,445 X4 M40i, and you get a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six that makes 355 hp and 365 lb-ft. Both engines send their power to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The 2.0-liter doesn’t feel especially quick, but it should be more than adequate in daily driving situations. Even though it’s the base model, the X4 xDrive30i will also hold its own on a winding back road. It’s no sports car, but with a standard M Sport suspension, it’s competent enough in the corners. Especially in Sport+ mode.

Anyone with cornering on their mind, however, will want the X4 M40i. That extra 100-ish horsepower makes it significantly quicker than the four-cylinder model, hitting 60 mph in a claimed 4.6 seconds. Add in the larger brakes, adaptive suspension, and the optional M Sport differential, and you have a surprisingly enjoyable corner carver. The crackling sports exhaust is just a bonus.

The brake pedal is less firm than I’d prefer, but the brakes themselves are strong, and the tires have plenty of grip. The paddle shifters deliver quick shifts, but the transmission programming is also smart enough that you can usually leave it to its own devices. Inflate the adjustable bolsters, and the seats do a good job of holding you in place, too. And although it initially wants to understeer, if you really push it, you can even hang the tail out for a well-controlled power slide.

The X4 M40i wouldn’t be my first choice for track duty, but it offers the kind of hop-in-and-go fun that would make errands more enjoyable and a quick trip to the mountains exciting. When you need a quiet, comfortable commuter, Comfort mode is a button press away.

No matter how sporty and well-rounded it is, some people will still dismiss the X4 as just an uglier, less practical X3. That’s fine. The X4 isn’t for them. But the fact that something isn’t for everyone doesn’t mean it isn’t for anyone. Buyers who like the X4’s styling should enjoy the driving experience, too, and those who don’t can still buy the X3.

Besides, if trends change in a few years, it’s a lot easier to replace a car than it is to remove a tattoo.

Edinson Cavani scored two superb goals as Uruguay beat Portugal to set up a World Cup quarter-final meeting with France.

Defeat for the European champions finished Cristiano Ronaldo’s hopes of success in Russia just hours after Lionel Messi and Argentina were knocked out, beaten 4-3 by Les Bleus.

This World Cup has not been short of stunning goals and Cavani added another to the collection when he opened the scoring early on, playing a superb one-two with Luis Suarez before thumping home a header from his strike partner’s cross.

Uruguay had not conceded a goal at this World Cup before Pepe rose unmarked to nod in an equaliser from close range, prompting a brief spell of dominance for Portugal.

But Cavani secured Uruguay’s place in the last eight – and a trip to Nizhny Novgorod to face France on Friday – when he steered a brilliant shot beyond goalkeeper Rui Patricio.

The win may have come at a price, though, as Cavani limped off late on.

Uruguay going from strength to strength

Cavani (21) found Suarez (9) with a precise pass before bursting into the area to score the opening goal

Uruguay made a slow start to this World Cup by scraping past Egypt 1-0 but have got stronger with every game – and in Suarez and Cavani, they possess one of the most potent strike partnerships in Russia.

Exquisite technique, timing and teamwork were all present as the two combined to score a goal inside the first 10 minutes that few sides at the tournament would have been able to prevent.

Cavani – hugging the touchline on the right wing – hit a brilliant crossfield pass to Suarez wide left. The Barcelona forward held the ball for a moment as Cavani powered into the area before whipping in a cross for his strike partner to head home. Of Cavani’s 45 international goals, Suarez has now assisted 12 of them.

It is, however, a partnership that could be disrupted. After scoring his side’s second with a clinical finish on the counter, the Paris St-Germain striker left the field, appearing to clutch his hamstring.

A serious injury for Cavani would undoubtedly be a blow but this Uruguay team is arguably greater than the sum of its parts. Against Portugal, they looked well balanced and while they did concede, it was the first goal against them in 597 minutes of football, a run stretching back to August last year.

Edinson Cavani was replaced with 16 minutes left

Knockouts no-show for Ronaldo once again

Ronaldo scored four goals to take Portugal through to the last 16 almost on his own, but once again was unable to continue that form beyond the group stages.

The Real Madrid forward had failed to find the net in his four previous knockout games and never really troubled Fernando Muslera in the Uruguay goal on Saturday evening.

He did not have a single touch of the ball inside the area in the first half while his only shot on target in the entire game came in the second minute, when his low effort from distance was straight at Muslera.

Ronaldo will be 37 by the time of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, meaning this could have been his last appearance on the biggest international stage.

But although time may not be on his side, his form is, this game apart. He scored 52 goals in 118 games for Portugal before turning 30 – but since then has hit 32 in 34.

Man of the match – Edinson Cavani (Uruguay)

Aside from his goals. Edinson Cavani was a constant menace to the Portugal defence with his strength and movement, particularly on the counter

A 1930 repeat for Uruguay? The stats

This is the first time Uruguay have won their opening four games tat a World Cup tournament since 1930, with the fourth game in that run being their 4-2 victory over Argentina in the final.

Portugal have lost their past four World Cup knockout matches, since a goalless draw with England (and a penalty shootout win) in the 2006 quarter-final.

Uruguay’s winning goal came from their only shot of any kind in the second half. They had just 30% possession after half-time.

Edinson Cavani scored his 44th and 45th goals for Uruguay.

Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani scored with both of his shots on target.

Since 1966, only Grzegorz Lato and Andrzej Szarmach (five for Poland) and Michael Ballack and Miroslav Klose (five for Germany) have combined for more World Cup goals than Uruguay’s Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez (four).

This was Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo’s 38th game in World Cups/European Championships – no player has played in more across the two competitions (he is level with Bastian Schweinsteiger).

Ronaldo has played 514 minutes of football in the knockout stages of the World Cup, but has failed to score or provide an assist.

He attempted six shots for Portugal in this match (one on target) – one more than the entire Uruguay team managed over the 90 minutes.

At 35 years and 124 days, Pepe became Portugal’s oldest goalscorer in a major tournament match (World Cup and European Championships).

When Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe embraced at the end of a breathless World Cup classic, it was a striking moment that seemed to confirm the passing of greatness from one player to the next.

Everyone present at the electrified Kazan Arena on Saturday left the stadium knowing they had witnessed a special match, a knockout game for the ages.

And one player in particular set the spine tingling.

Mbappe is only 19 years old but he scored two goals and ran with blistering pace from his own half to win a penalty for the opener in France’s 4-3 victory over Argentina, a win that moves Didier Deschamps’ talented side into the quarter-finals.

It was a spell-binding performance that defined a match whose outcome signals France’s real potential to go all the way in Russia and claim their second World Cup trophy.

Mbappe – the forward who has everything

Mbappe was not even born when France won this competition on home soil in 1998.

Neatly, Michael Owen’s brilliant slalom through the Argentina defence at that tournament, which was so like Mbappe’s here for the opener in Kazan, came exactly 20 years ago – on 30 June 1998.

World Cup moments: Owen’s wonder goal

Mbappe, who was born on 20 December 1998, is technically still on loan at Paris St-Germain from Monaco but is expected to join the French champions for 180m euros (£165.7m) as the second most expensive player of all time. Only the 200m euros (£177m) PSG paid for Brazil forward Neymar in 2017 surpasses that fee.

It is not just searing pace Mbappe is blessed with but sublime skill, quick thinking, two clever feet, a cool head, bravery, belief and a brutal eye for goal. His two finishes were predatory, low and powerful.

“It was an incredible performance from a centre forward who has the lot: blistering pace, goals, touch and technique,” said former England captain Alan Shearer, speaking on Match of the Day.

“At 19, to put in a performance like that, with millions watching and Messi at the other end, it was simply brilliant.”

Mbappe, from the suburbs of Paris, only made his international debut last year. His rise to the top has been dizzying since he burst on to the scene in the 2016-17 season, scoring 26 goals in 44 games as Monaco reached the Champions League semi-finals and won Ligue 1.

His two goals here utterly wiped out Argentina’s gathering momentum and announced his supreme talent to the world.

Not since 1958, when the legendary Brazilian Pele, then 17, found the net twice against Sweden in the final, has a teenager scored twice in a World Cup game.

“I’m very happy, and it’s flattering to be compared to a great player like Pele but he’s in another category,” Mbappe said.

“Still, it’s great to join the list of players that have achieved such feats.”

Another day of suffering for Messi

Lionel Messi has never scored a goal in the World Cup knockout stages

This was a match that inflicted more agony on Messi, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner who seems destined never to shine as only he can on the biggest stage of all.

Right after the final whistle, Messi did not look back as he and Mbappe came together and parted, but the young French striker did steal a brief final glance behind him.

He would have seen the hunched back of Argentina’s iconic number 10, broken by the weight of a whole nation’s expectation. Messi dreamed of matching those demands but was once again unable to conjure his masterful best when it counted most.

He provided two assists – one inadvertently as his shot was deflected in by Gabriel Mercado when Argentina took the lead, the other a sublime cross that found Sergio Aguero in the 93rd minute.

That was too little, too late, a reminder of what might have been at the end of another largely peripheral display at this World Cup.

Perhaps the moment that summed his afternoon up best was his sole shot on target, a strike in the 83rd minute that he failed to truly connect with and that Hugo Lloris gathered with ease.

Six days after he turned 31, as he walked off the pitch with his head bowed and his captain’s armband held in his hands, Messi could well have been turning his back on the World Cup for good, and on international football altogether.

He did score a sublime opener in the narrow victory over Nigeria that dragged Argentina through to the knockout stage. Afterwards, Messi said he had “never known suffering like it”.

His words came after having suffered plenty with Argentina before – including three consecutive defeats in major finals when Germany claimed the 2014 World Cup and Chile beat them to the Copa America in 2015 and 2016.

Messi said he was retiring after the 2016 defeat but changed his mind and helped drag his team-mates through qualifying for this World Cup, scoring a hat-trick in a decisive final match against Ecuador that rescued a poor campaign.

The legacy of his remarkable achievements in club football with Barcelona will not be tainted by this low.

But nonetheless there will forever be a regret and a sadness that a player as talented as Messi looks likely to have one thing missing: a World Cup he defined, which is exactly what Diego Maradona did in 1986.

It is remarkable to think that he may forever remain without a single goal in the World Cup knockout stage.

End of an era for Argentina?

This defeat could well be the end for Argentina’s manager Jorge Sampaoli, too. The expectation among many is that he will now leave.

Although the former Sevilla boss would not discuss his future after the game, ex-Argentina and Tottenham midfielder Ossie Ardiles said the “greatest mistake Argentina made was to put Sampaoli in charge”.

He added: “His only plan was to give the ball to Messi and hope for a miracle.”

At 34, Mascherano is the eldest of a generation that is now coming to an end. By the time the next World Cup comes around in 2022, Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain and Angel di Maria will all be 34.

The question many Argentine journalists are asking is: Where is the next wave coming from?

Argentina won the Under-20 World Cup in 1995, 1997, 2001, 2005 and 2007, but they now seem to be running out of emerging stars.

It is not a problem shared by France. Barcelona’s 21-year-old forward Ousmane Dembele was on the bench, Antoine Griezmann is still in his prime at 27 and there should be much more to come from Paul Pogba at just 25.

Alexandre Lacazette, Kingsley Coman, Adrien Rabiot and Anthony Martial did not even make this squad.

Should Mbappe continue to perform as he did in Saturday’s thriller, this could develop into a very special tournament for him and France.

Hampshire posted the biggest-ever total in a final at Lord’s as they beat Kent by 61 runs to win the One-Day Cup.

It was the county’s first victory at headquarters since 2012, as Rilee Rossouw’s 125 helped them amass 330-7.

Former Kent captain Sam Northeast also made an unbeaten 75, while Joe Denly claimed 4-57 with the ball.

Kent could never keep pace in reply despite 86 from Daniel Bell-Drummond and 75 from skipper Sam Billings as they were bowled out for 269.

On a gloriously sun-kissed day in London, a crowd of just under 21,000 were treated to some fine individual performances as Hampshire took the first domestic honours of the season.

Hampshire’s record total ultimately proved more than enough to give James Vince’s side victory and avenge their narrow one-run defeat by Kent in the group stages.

It was also their seventh success in a one-day final at Lord’s.

Hampshire plunder runs under Lord’s sun

Runs have been flowing in both domestic and international 50-over cricket so far this summer and the pattern of bat dominating ball followed even after Hampshire were put in by Kent captain Billings.

Such was the extent of Hampshire’s free-scoring, thanks to an opening stand worth 136 between Rossouw and Tom Alsop (72 off 75 balls), that a total approaching 400 looked on the cards at one stage.

Rossouw, who clubbed nine fours and three sixes in his 114-ball 125, also looked on course to surpass Alex Hales’ record-breaking 187 not out in last year’s final for Nottinghamshire.

‘It’s gone a mile’ – Rossouw hits huge six

His most destructive shot of the day was without doubt a six over long-on, which landed in the top tier of the Warner Stand.

But the South African’s dismissal on 270-3 in the 42nd over wrestled things back in Kent’s favour. Denly’s part-time leg spin restricted Hampshire to just 68 runs in the last 10 overs.

Seemingly they had the momentum going into the interval.

Kent’s big-hitters fail to come off

While the Spitfires may have fancied chasing 331 in 50 overs, such is the tempo of the modern 50-over game, it would have needed a record successful run-chase in a Lord’s final to reach that total.

They went off at a decent pace inside the opening powerplay, but when competition leading run-scorer Heino Kuhn inexplicably ran himself out for 32, abruptly ending a promising opening partnership of 55, Hampshire sniffed their chance of victory.

Opener Bell-Drummond appeared to be playing the anchor role, but when he chopped a delivery on to his own stumps off Chris Wood at 179-4 in the 35th over, the game already appeared up.

Big-hitting middle-order players Alex Blake (9) and veteran Darren Stevens (12) failed to make significant enough contributions to support Billings (75) as he tried a late rescue act.

Hampshire’s almost immaculate fielding also proved their undoing with four run-outs, including an impressive direct hit from long leg by Mason Crane to dismiss Blake.

Kent’s 40 years of Lord’s hurt

For Kent, defeat extended their wait for a winning Lord’s final to 40 years, stretching back to the 1978 B&H final.

Eight defeats in one-day finals have now followed since that Bob Woolmer-inspired six-wicket win against Derbyshire.

The loss will disappoint both the players and their supporters at a time when the club appear to be on an upward trajectory.

But Matt Walker and Allan Donald’s squad are well-placed for promotion in County Championship Division Two at the halfway stage of the season.

Their side contains a mix of promising home-grown players and a number of experienced heads, including 42-year-old Stevens.